Tag Archives: Eating Recovery Center

Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorder Conference Offers Expert-Led Professional Education

June 12, 2013 straightlinepr Leave a comment

Outstanding opportunities for professional development and intensive exploration of the latest in research and innovative eating disorders treatments are highlights of the 5th Annual Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference

Denver, CO, June 11, 2013 — Outstanding opportunities for professional development and intensive exploration of the latest in research and innovative eating disorders treatments are highlights of the 5th Annual Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference, to be held in Denver, Colo., August 23-24, 2013. Nationally recognized eating disorders experts and behavioral healthcare professionals dedicated to understanding and treating eating disorders will converge in the Mile High City to discuss the medical and clinical breakthroughs and treatment best practices, providing an invaluable opportunity for attendees across various disciplines to learn from and connect with thought leaders in the field.

“Supporting the dedicated professionals in the eating disorders treatment field through education, networking and collaboration is a key tenant of the Eating Recovery Center Foundation,” said Julie Holland, MHS, CEDS, chief marketing officer at Eating Recovery Center. “This conference is intended to foster best practice sharing from which our colleagues from across the country can learn and grow as treatment professionals.”

The 5th Annual Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference features an interactive educational program alongside collaboration among all areas of the eating disorders treatment community. Physicians, therapists, dietitians, nurses and advocacy organizations will gather to provide attendees access to the latest information on developing industry standards, recent trends and evolving treatment while allowing them the opportunity to increase their knowledge, build on their clinical treatment skills and accrue continuing education credits. The 2013 eating disorders conference will explore topics including:

* Medical care of patients with anorexia and bulimia

* New developments in the field of eating disorders treatment

* Understanding and addressing patient resistance

* Eating disorder causes, treatment and the recovery process

* Sustainable eating disorder recovery for children and adolescents

* Ethical challenges in the treatment of eating disorders

* Nutrition and meal plan compliance in eating disorder recovery

* Expert panel featuring Ken Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS; Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS; Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS; and Emmett Bishop, MD, FAED, CEDS

A pre-conference workshop, “Understanding and Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in the Treatment of Eating Disorders,” on Friday, August 23, is offered in advance of the standard conference program, and will be led by a multidisciplinary team of Eating Recovery Center experts. The workshop includes conference handouts and resources and provides four education credits. Workshop registration is $50 with conference registration and $75 without conference registration.

On or before July 26, 2013, registration for the 5th Annual Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference is $175. Registration includes all sessions, up to 16 continuing education credits, conference handouts and resources, lunch and dinner on Friday and breakfast and lunch on Saturday, as well as refreshment breaks. Discounted rates are available for student registration and single-day attendance. Early registration is recommended. Download the full conference invitation at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com, or register online here.

Continuing education credits for conference attendees are available for any master’s-level professionals through National Board for Certified Counselors, registered dietitians through Commission on Dietetic Registration, registered nurses through Colorado Nurses Association, California MFTs and LCSWs through California Board of Behavioral Sciences and Psychologists through American Psychological Association. Applications are pending for physicians through the American Medical Association (continuing medical education) and social workers through National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

Established in 2012, the Eating Recovery Center Foundation is a 501c3 seeking to achieve a three-fold mission: provide professionals in the eating disorders field with education and development programs that increase their knowledge and strengthen clinical treatment skills; support research initiatives that deepen understanding of these illnesses and how they can best be treated; and provide scholarships to Eating Recovery Center patients requiring additional financial resources to complete a course of treatment.

For more information or to register for the 5th Annual Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference, visit http://bit.ly/EatingDisordersConference2013 or call 720-258-4021.

About Eating Recovery Center
Eating Recovery Center is an international center providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder. Under the leadership of Drs. Kenneth Weiner, Craig Johnson, Emmett Bishop and Ovidio Bermudez, programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults that includes Inpatient, Residential, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. Denver-based facilities include the Behavioral Hospital for Adults, the Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, the Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Services for Adults, and the Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents. In an effort to increase patient access to care throughout the United States, Eating Recovery Center partners with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program in Sacramento, Cali., and The Moore Center for Eating Disorders in Bellevue, Wash. Summit offers Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient Services as well as Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services in Fresno and Roseville. The Moore Center offers Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. For more information, please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

Contact:
Molly Koch
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
mkoch@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Healthcare

Eating Recovery Center Offers Guidance to Help Individuals Avoid Eating Disorders Relapse

February 21, 2013 straightlinepr Leave a comment

International treatment center encourages four strategies for living a life of recovery

Denver, CO, February 20, 2013 – Tens of millions of Americans struggle with eating disorders, including a growing population of baby boomers, adolescents and children. For individuals in recovery from these complex illnesses, a frightening reality is the possibility of eating disorders relapse. In fact, a 2005 study in the European Eating Disorders Review found that more than one-third of individuals who have struggled with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa will experience an eating disorders relapse in the first two and a half years after leaving a treatment center.

With National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2013 taking place next week, February 24-March 2, Eating Recovery Center, an international center providing comprehensive treatment for eating disorders, seeks to highlight the skills and support structures that help men, women and children live a life of recovery. Recognizing that the hardest work of recovery often begins upon returning to “real life” following intensive eating disorders treatment, Eating Recovery Center offers these four strategies to help individuals protect their health and avoid eating disorders relapse.

1. Remain actively engaged with the aftercare plan. Discharge planning and the development of a recovery-focused post-treatment strategy are critical in creating sustainable recoveries and preventing relapse. These individualized aftercare plans are created by licensed therapists who work closely with a patient’s treatment team to identify emotional, behavioral and situational discharge challenges, and outline personal and recovery-focused goals.

2. Develop a strong supportive network. Friends, family and colleagues who have been educated about eating disorders and understand how to support a loved one in his or her recovery can be very helpful in sustaining recovery. Many individuals find a strong recovery-focused community through the alumni programming offered by many treatment centers. These programs generally provide ongoing education, events and a sense of community to support a life of eating disorders recovery.

3. Identify values and pursue valued life directions. Values not only serve as a compass for people’s lives, but also help individuals with eating disorders understand why change is necessary and pursue that change, even when it feels overwhelmingly difficult. Not surprisingly, identifying values and valued life directions are key components of the eating disorders recovery process. Taking time to be in touch with values and align thoughts and actions with valued life directions can help sustain recovery, even in times of stress or challenges.

4. Seek help. Sustainable recoveries do not just happen. Individuals and families in recovery from eating disorders must work diligently to protect and maintain a healthy weight and body image. The need for additional support – through support groups, outpatient therapy or an intensive treatment program – does not indicate failure, but rather underscores an ongoing commitment to doing whatever it takes to sustain eating disorders recovery.

“By nature, individuals with eating disorders tend to be perfectionistic and high achieving—they like to do things right, and they like to be the best at their endeavors,” explains Julie Holland, MHS, CEDS, chief marketing officer at Eating Recovery Center. “Their approach to recovery is generally no different, and patients often struggle to understand that life without an eating disorder looks different for every individual and there is no ‘right’ or ‘perfect’ way to live a life of recovery. In addition to developing recovery skills and implementing effective support systems, patients must also accept that challenges are likely to arise and understand that they have not failed even if recovery lapses occur.”

For more information about National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2013, visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/nedawareness-week.

Join Eating Recovery Center and its partner programs, The Moore Center and Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program, at the following events during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2013:

* National Eating Disorders Association Walk, hosted by The Eating Disorder Network of Central Florida; Sunday, February 24, Orlando, Fla. (Eating Recovery Center sponsoring)

* Mind and Body Fair, hosted by the University of Northern Colorado’s Women’s Resource Center; Monday, February 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Greeley, Colo. (Eating Recovery Center exhibiting)

* Eating Recovery Center Patient Artwork Exhibit; February 25-March 1, Eating Recovery Center lobby, 1830 Franklin Street, Denver, Colo.

* Eating Recovery Center Patient Artwork Exhibition Reception; Thursday, February 28, 5:30-7:00 p.m., Eating Recovery Center lobby, 1830 Franklin Street, Denver, Colo.

* Amber Sokoll, MA, NCC, RYT, speaking at Beyond the Mirror’s professional networking event; Tuesday, February 26, Fort Collins, Colo.

* Jennifer Lombardi, MFT, speaking at the Celebrate Your Body Week event, hosted by the University of California Davis; Wednesday, February 27, Davis, Calif. (Summit speaking, exhibiting)

* Jennifer Lombardi, MFT, speaking at the Love Your Body event, hosted by California State University Sacramento; Thursday, February 28, Sacramento, Calif. (Summit speaking, exhibiting)

* Celebrity Dance Challenge, hosted by the Eating Disorders Information Network; Thursday, February 28, Atlanta, Ga. (Eating Recovery Center sponsoring, attending)

* Jen Sommer, RD, speaking at Eating Disorders Coalition of Iowa event; Saturday, March 2, Des Moines, Iowa. (Eating Recovery Center speaking, exhibiting)

* National Eating Disorders Association Walk, hosted by the University of Nevada Reno; Saturday, March 2, Reno, Nev. (Summit sponsoring, exhibiting)

* Binge Eating Disorder Workshop, hosted by The Moore Center; Saturday, March 2, Bellevue, Wash.

Editor: Nationally recognized eating disorders experts, including Julie Holland and Drs. Kenneth L. Weiner, Emmett R. Bishop, Ovidio Bermudez and Craig Johnson, along with patients in recovery, are available for interviews to supplement your National Eating Disorders Awareness Week stories. Contact Molly Koch at (303) 433-7020 or mkoch@csg-pr.com to arrange an interview.

About Eating Recovery Center
Eating Recovery Center is an international center providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Kenneth Weiner, Craig Johnson, Emmett Bishop and Ovidio Bermudez, programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults that includes Inpatient, Residential, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. Denver-based facilities include the Behavioral Hospital for Adults, the Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, the Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Services for Adults, and the Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents. In an effort to increase patient access to care throughout the United States, Eating Recovery Center partners with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program in Sacramento, Cali., and The Moore Center for Eating Disorders in Bellevue, Wash. Summit offers Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient Services as well as Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services in Fresno and Roseville. The Moore Center offers Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. For more information, please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

Contact:
Molly Koch
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, Colo., 80206
303-433-7020
mkoch@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Healthcare

Childhood Stress is Rising, Eating Recovery Center Offers Insight to Help Prevent Eating Disorders

January 30, 2013 straightlinepr Leave a comment

Center cites the connection between rising anxiety and stress-initiated mental illnesses as likely factor driving increased child and adolescent treatment inquiries

Denver, Colo, January 29, 2013 – Stress among children and adolescents is on the rise, and mental health professionals are seeing the impact as more families seek treatment for their children and adolescents to address stress-initiated behavioral illnesses such as eating disorders. At Eating Recovery Center, an international center providing comprehensive treatment for eating disorders, more than 20 percent of the Center’s total inquiries for treatment in 2012 were for children or adolescents ages 17 and under, of which 35 percent related to boys and girls ages 10 to 14.

Children today are growing up in what experts say is a more stressful environment than ever before.

“As an outcome of globalization and the information age, children and adolescents are more aware of their surroundings than they ever have been,” said Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS, chief medical officer and medical director of child and adolescent services at Eating Recovery Center. “This access and exposure can pose serious challenges as children and teens are inundated with fear-inducing global news and anxiety-causing social media interactions.”

Studies confirm this increase in stress among children and adolescents. Forty-five percent of teens (ages 13-17) say they were more worried in 2009 than they had been the previous year, according to a 2009 report from the American Psychological Association (APA). The study also found that 27 percent of tweens (ages 8-12) and 39 percent of teens reported eating too much or too little due to stress. However, only 28 percent of parents thought their teen’s stress had increased and a mere 8 percent reported being aware of their child’s eating issues.

Due to the connection between anxiety and stress-initiated mental illnesses like eating disorders, Eating Recovery Center encourages parents to take proactive steps to understand the impact of stress on their children, identify events and situations that may induce stress and recognize patterns of thinking and behavior that may indicate anxiety:

1. Childhood stress generally fits into one of four categories: personal, interpersonal, interfamilial and global (a stress reaction to national or world news).

2. Children of all ages are vulnerable to the effects of stress. Although they may internalize stress differently, children at different ages – from toddlers to teenagers – can all suffer from anxiety.

3. There is no universal response to stress. Children at different developmental stages and under different life circumstances will respond to stress differently.

4. The burden of stress is cumulative. Just like adults, children and adolescents can only “take so much,” and multiple stressors can become increasingly difficult for a young person to manage.

5. Even positive change can be stressful. For children and adolescents, change can be difficult, even perceived positive changes such as starting at a new school or joining a new sports team.

To help parents minimize stress in their children, Eating Recovery Center recommends following these four guidelines:

1. Be aware of your own stress as a parent and recognize how your words and actions can directly or indirectly affect your child.

2. Make yourself available to discuss their perceptions of stressful situations.

3. Talk to your children if you feel that something is causing them anxiety; do not wait for them to vocalize their feelings to you.

4. Provide age-appropriate information regarding their questions or concerns.

“While everyone feels stress at some time or another, individuals with a genetic or temperamental predisposition toward behavioral disorders will often adopt unhealthy coping mechanisms as a tool to manage their anxiety,” said Dr. Bermudez. “Because disordered eating behaviors such as restricting calories and purging actually release chemicals that minimize anxiety, many children and adolescents use these behaviors to experience relief due to their inability to identify feelings, articulate causes of stress and manage their anxiety appropriately.”

Eating Recovery Center encourages parents whose children have begun exhibiting troubling eating behaviors or body image issues as a potential outcome of stress to seek help from a qualified professional. Early intervention maximizes the likelihood of lasting recovery. For more information about eating disorders treatment resources, visit EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

About Eating Recovery Center
Eating Recovery Center is an international center providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Kenneth Weiner, Craig Johnson, Emmett Bishop and Ovidio Bermudez, programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults that includes Inpatient, Residential, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. Denver-based facilities include the Behavioral Hospital for Adults, the Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, the Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Services for Adults, and the Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents. In an effort to increase patient access to care throughout the United States, Eating Recovery Center partners with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program in Sacramento, Cali., and The Moore Center for Eating Disorders in Bellevue, Wash. Summit offers Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient Services as well as Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services in Fresno and Roseville. The Moore Center offers Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. For more information, please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

Contact:
Molly Koch
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
mkoch@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Healthcare

Eating Recovery Center Warns New Year’s Resolutions to Lose Weight Can Lead to Disordered Eating

January 4, 2013 straightlinepr Leave a comment

Internationally Recognized Treatment Center Encourages Americans to Shift the Focus of Their Resolutions from “Looking Better” to “Feeling Better”

Denver, CO, January 03, 2012 – Americans’ top 2013 New Year’s resolution is to become more physically fit and the fourth most popular resolution is to lose weight, according to a recent survey published by Franklin Covey. Because dieting and over-exercise are two activities that commonly contribute to the development of eating disorders, Eating Recovery Center, an international center providing comprehensive treatment for eating disorders, cautions against diving headfirst into a resolution focused on reducing body size, particularly for individuals with a family history of eating disorders.

“Eating disorders have a strong genetic component, and seemingly harmless – even seemingly healthy – New Year’s diet, exercise and weight loss regimens can quickly spiral out of control, especially for someone who has a family history of disordered eating thoughts and behaviors,” said Bonnie Brennan, MA, LPC, clinical director of the adult partial hospitalization program at Eating Recovery Center.

To reduce risks for eating disorders development related to 2013 weight loss goals, Eating Recovery Center recommends turning the focus away from changing perceived shortcomings in appearance and instead focusing on prioritizing the things in life that you value. More often than not, these resolutions emphasize how you feel rather than how you look, and can include:

1. Be more kind and compassionate to yourself. Practice at least one method of self-care daily, even if you have to schedule it into your day. Pamper yourself with a hot bath, a yoga class or a manicure, or simply spend some time journaling or practicing a hobby that brings joy or special value to your life.

2. Treat yourself as you treat others. Make a point to practice the “golden rule” on yourself. Try to not be as hard on yourself this year, and remember that you deserve happiness, just like everyone else.

3. Try one new activity or take one small risk each month. Gradually approach your fears and try new experiences in life to broaden opportunities for enjoyment and engagement with others.

4. Ask for help more often. Do not be afraid to let someone know when you need a shoulder to lean on, a supportive ear to talk to or even just a friendly hug. Although others may not be able to “fix” your struggles, you do not have to be alone as you explore your feelings and frustrations.

5. Take time to appreciate the beauty around you. Practice mindfulness and commit to being present in the moment. Celebrate the wonders of the world around you by spending time in nature or with supportive family and friends, both of which can be grounding and peaceful when you feel stressed and chaotic.

While New Year’s resolutions that emphasize feeling good over looking good can support a life of balance, not all appearance-focused resolutions are harmful or dangerous. However, severely restricting calories to an unhealthy level, engaging in an excessive and rigid exercise regimen, withdrawing from family and friends, displaying extreme anxiety about gaining weight or “being fat,” or bingeing and purging behaviors in the pursuit of a weight loss-centric resolution can indicate the development of an eating disorder.

“If a friend or loved one begins exhibiting troubling weight loss behaviors in the execution of his or her New Year’s resolutions, it is important to seek help as quickly as possible,” said Brennan. “Early intervention significantly increases the chances of lasting eating disorders recovery.”

For more information about eating disorders treatment resources, visit EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

General Sites:
YourHub
Ground Report
Gather

Mom- and Women-Focused Sites:
www.modernmom.com – blog post
Mile High Mommas – forum post
Divine Caroline – submit article
www.socialmoms.net – blog post

Contact:
Shannon Fern
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
sfern@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Healthcare

Eating Recovery Center: Eliminate Critical Body-Focused Comments During “Fat Talk” Free Week 2012

October 19, 2012 straightlinepr Leave a comment

Leading eating disorders treatment center urges adults and children alike to acknowledge the impact of negative body shape- and weight-centric comments and promote healthy self-esteem

Denver, CO, October 18, 2012 – A study released in early October in the International Journal of Eating Disorders found that genetics could cause some women, more than others, to feel pressures to be thin and fall victim to body dissatisfaction. During “Fat Talk” Free Week (October 22-28, 2012) and beyond, Eating Recovery Center, an international center providing comprehensive treatment for eating disorders, urges women and men alike to take a conscious break from weight-focused criticism of themselves and others, to minimize the potentially negative impact these comments could have on body image, self-esteem and the development of eating disorders.

While the fact that genes can influence body type is widely understood, Eating Recovery Center cites this recent study as further evidence demonstrating that genetics can additionally influence the degree to which individuals identify with a thin ideal. Even innocently intended phrases such as “I‘m having a ‘fat’ day,” or “You look great, have you lost weight?” can be internalized by people who are more genetically sensitive to comments and perceived judgments about body shape and size. “Fat talk” can be particularly impactful for children and teenagers, a population whose fragile self-images contend with powerful social pressures to be thin, including media messages and bullying.

“Every day, we are on the receiving end of a barrage of messages that encourage us to be thin – television commercials glamorizing disordered eating thoughts, social media posts describing new weight loss tools, comments from gossip magazines about celebrity weight gain, and even simple, self-deprecating comments from our friends and families,” explains Julie Holland, MHS, CEDS, chief marketing officer of Eating Recovery Center. “Under this steady pressure, it is not uncommon to internalize a thin ideology, engrain it in our thought processes and behaviors around food and body image and even impress these same ideals on our loved ones.”

To help men, women and children fight “fat talk” and promote positive body image and self-esteem in themselves and others, Eating Recovery Center offers these five recommendations:

1. Focus on what your body can do for you, rather than what it looks like. Take stock of the day-to-day activities your body helps you enjoy, regardless of what it looks like.

2. Do away with self-destructive behaviors. Overly critical comments about weight or size can wreak havoc on your body image and the body image of others.

3. Be aware of the comments you make about others. The next time you remark on a celebrity’s weight gain, remember that others can perceive this as a judgment about weight gain in general and they may even relate your comment to themselves.

4. Compliment yourself. Instilling a positive body image starts with the messages you develop about yourself. Make a practice out of complimenting yourself several times a day.

5. Be a critical consumer of media. Remind yourself and others that the images portrayed in the media are often unrealistic, and that body shapes and sizes are often digitally altered and impossible to achieve.

“While ‘fat talk’ rarely causes eating disorders, curbing this negative dialogue can be a powerful anecdote against the uncontrollable and external risk factors associated with eating disorders,” explains Holland. “If a loved one’s ‘fat talk’ accompanies significant weight loss, over-exercising or other concerning disordered eating behaviors, it is important to intervene early and seek an assessment from a qualified eating disorders professional.”

About Eating Recovery Center
Eating Recovery Center is an international center providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Kenneth Weiner, Craig Johnson, Emmett Bishop and Ovidio Bermudez, programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults that includes Inpatient, Residential, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. Denver-based facilities include the Behavioral Hospital for Adults, the Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, the Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Services for Adults, and the Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents. In an effort to increase patient access to care throughout the United States, Eating Recovery Center partners with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program in Sacramento, Cali., and The Moore Center for Eating Disorders in Bellevue, Wash. Summit offers Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient Services as well as Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services in Fresno and Roseville. The Moore Center offers Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. For more information, please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

Contact:
Shannon Fern
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
sfern@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Healthcare

Eating Disorder Triggers High During Back to School Transition

August 30, 2012 straightlinepr Leave a comment

Eating Recovery Center Urges Parents to be Vigilant for Eating Disorder Signs

Denver, CO, August 29, 2012 – Research has shown that life changes, such as the transitions to middle school, high school or college, can serve as triggers that may contribute to the development of an eating disorder. For this reason, Eating Recovery Center, an international center providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder, encourages parents of children and adolescents making these life transitions to be vigilant for early signs of eating disorders.

“Children and adolescents who are high-achieving, perfectionists and who have highly sensitive temperaments are generally at a higher risk than other children for developing an eating disorder,” said Julie Holland, MHS, certified eating disorders specialist and chief marketing officer of Eating Recovery Center. “For these individuals, unhealthy coping mechanisms may be utilized to manage the stressors associated with significant life changes.”

A 2012 study from the Journal of Clinical Nursing found that significant transitional events, as well as a lack of support following traumatic life events, could serve as eating disorder triggers. Researchers identified school transitions as one of the six main factors that triggered eating disorders among the individuals who participated in the study.

School transition experiences such as adapting to a new environment, meeting increased academic demands, struggling with social pressures and grappling with the physiological changes that occur during adolescence can create a perfect storm in which an individual with a highly sensitive temperament or a genetic predisposition for an eating disorder may turn to disordered eating behaviors as an anxiety management tool or coping mechanism.

To help parents manage their children’s transitions to new school environments, Eating Recovery Center highlights five back to school tips to help parents promote healthy attitudes about food and body shape and size.

1. Look for discreet warning signs. Although weight loss can be an indicator of disordered eating, it may not be immediately apparent. A child may be displaying signs of an eating disorder if his or her schoolwork and grades begin to suffer, if he or she becomes socially withdrawn and increasingly anxious, tired and lethargic. Parents should also be aware if their child begins wearing roomier or layered clothing, even on warm days.

2. Avoid comments about your child’s body shape or size. When shopping for new school clothes avoid commenting on your child’s weight or body size and instead focus on his or her preferences regarding color, style, etc.

3. Have an honest conversation about peer pressure and the dangers of replacing food calories with alcohol calories if your son or daughter is getting ready to make the move to college. Discuss the physical consequences of disordered eating and drinking behaviors, such as liver damage from excessive alcohol consumption or the significant internal damage poor nutrition can cause.

4. Remind your teenage athlete not to overdo his or her training in an effort to make a high school sports team. Watch for signs of over-exercise, such as sports preparation when he or she is injured or sick, or exercise that significantly interferes with daily activities and schoolwork.

5. Be a positive body role model. When helping an adolescent recover from the body-focused bullying that can sometimes accompany going back to school, a parent who has positive body image will have far more credibility than one who consistently criticizes his or her own looks.

“It is important to remember that what triggers an eating disorder may not be what perpetuates it,” said Holland. “Though school transition pressures may have precipitated an eating disorder, the factors that enable its continuation are often complex. Early intervention and treatment from qualified eating disorders professionals are essential to maximize opportunities for lasting recovery.”

To help parents learn more about helping their children more effectively deal with pressures that could lead to the development of an eating disorder, Eating Recovery Center has launched a free Community Education Series for parents. In the first seminar in this series, “Helping Your Kids Deal Effectively with Back to School Stressors: Opportunities for Parents,” parents will learn about being a healthy role model, communicating effectively and identifying steps to intervene when they are concerned about their child’s eating behaviors. The inaugural seminar is Thursday, September 6, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Eating Recovery Center’s Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents, 100 Spruce Street, Suite 200, Denver, Colo. 80230. To RSVP for the event, please contact Emili Coringrato by Tuesday, September 4, at ecoringrato@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or 720.258.4014.

About Eating Recovery Center:
Eating Recovery Center is an international center providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Kenneth Weiner, Craig Johnson, Emmett Bishop and Ovidio Bermudez, programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults that includes Inpatient, Residential, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. Denver-based facilities include the Behavioral Hospital for Adults, the Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, the Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Services for Adults, and the Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents. In an effort to increase patient access to care throughout the United States, Eating Recovery Center partners with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program in Sacramento, Cali., and The Moore Center for Eating Disorders in Bellevue, Wash. Summit offers Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient Services as well as Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services in Fresno and Roseville. The Moore Center offers Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. For more information, please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

Contact:
Shannon Fern
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 433-7020
sfern@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Healthcare

The Moore Center for Eating Disorders Expands Treatment by Partnering with Eating Recovery Center

July 20, 2012 straightlinepr Leave a comment

Selective affiliation is part of Eating Recovery Center’s ongoing commitment to provide geographically diverse centers of excellence for the treatment of eating disorders

Denver, CO, July 19, 2012 – Eating Recovery Center, an international center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder, announced today that it has partnered with The Moore Center for Eating Disorders. Located in Bellevue, Wash., The Moore Center is the largest eating disorders clinic in Washington state.

This affiliation brings synergies to both organizations, enabling The Moore Center to enhance its current treatment options by strengthening its connection with an international inpatient and residential center of excellence for the treatment of eating disorders, and providing Eating Recovery Center patients an additional high quality treatment option to explore as they step down from higher levels of care. Patients at both facilities will experience the benefits of two of the best programs sharing medical and clinical practices and philosophies.

Eating Recovery Center will additionally lend organizational depth and breadth to The Moore Center, allowing the Washington facility to utilize Eating Recovery Center’s management and administrative services.

“At Eating Recovery Center, we continue to seek out established professionals who share our values and our culture, and who are committed to providing the highest quality eating disorders care,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, founding partner and chief executive officer of Eating Recovery Center. “The Moore Center has long been a trusted source of expert eating disorders care in the Pacific Northwest, and I have worked closely with the program’s dedicated team for more than 10 years. I strongly believe that this group is the right team with which to share our successful clinical programs.”

Since it was founded in 1991, The Moore Center has provided specialized and comprehensive treatment for eating disorders in a medical setting. The treatment center will continue to be led by program founder and medical director Mehri D. Moore, MD.

“Partnering with Eating Recovery Center enables The Moore Center to not only expand our treatment options and provide higher levels of care to our patients, but also leverage the expertise and experience of some of the nation’s most respected eating disorders treatment experts,” said Dr. Moore. “By incorporating clinical models developed by Eating Recovery Center’s leadership team into our treatment program, we strive to provide the best possible care for our patients and support their lasting recovery.”

The Moore Center’s eating disorders treatment programs include:

* Comprehensive partial hospitalization programs for adolescents ages 13 through 18 and adults ages 19 and older.

* An intensive outpatient program that expertly treats eating disorders while minimizing interruption in a patient’s daily life.

* Additional “step down programs” that ease a patient’s transition into everyday life while continually promoting lasting eating disorders recovery.

Eating Recovery Center’s affiliation with The Moore Center is part of Eating Recovery Center’s ongoing effort to provide centers of excellence for the treatment of eating disorders in geographically diverse locations.

For more information about Eating Recovery Center, visit www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com. To learn more about The Moore Center for Eating Disorders, visit www.moorecenterclinic.com.

About Eating Recovery Center
Eating Recovery Center is an international center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Kenneth Weiner, Craig Johnson, Emmett Bishop and Ovidio Bermudez, programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults that includes Inpatient, Residential, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. Denver-based facilities include the Behavioral Hospital for Adults, the Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, the Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Services for Adults, and the Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents. In addition, Eating Recovery Center, partnering with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program, offers Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient Services in Sacramento, California, as well as Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services in Fresno and Roseville. For more information, please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

About The Moore Center
The Moore Center is the longest-established eating disorder treatment facility in Washington state and has been dedicated to treating patients with eating disorders for more than two decades. Founded in 1991 and located in Bellevue, The Moore Center is a regional referral center; providing specialized and comprehensive treatment for eating disorders. The medically modeled treatment facility offers a continuum of care that includes partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient services. Since its inception, The Moore Center has treated over 5,000 patients. For more information, visit www.moorecenterclinic.com.

Contact:
Shannon Fern
CSG PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, Colo., 80206
(303) 433-7020
sfern@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Healthcare

2012 Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference Features Nation’s Leading Experts

July 4, 2012 straightlinepr Leave a comment

Registration Now Open for Educational Conference for Professionals Showcasing Innovative Eating Disorders Treatment Strategies, Highlighting Trends and Addressing Upcoming Changes in the Field

Denver, CO, July 03, 2012 – Denver, Colo., has emerged as a national hub for the treatment of eating disorders. This August, the experts who elevated Denver to this status, along with a group of other highly regarded professionals, will gather in the Mile High City to share trends, new research and emerging best practices in the field of eating disorders treatment at the 4th Annual Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference. Formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference, the event will be held August 10-11, 2012, and is hosted by the Eating Recovery Center Foundation, a non-profit organization established to promote education, research and patient access to treatment.

“In the eating disorders field, it is imperative that we share resources, best practices and promising research in order to help our patients achieve the best outcomes possible,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, chief executive officer and founding partner of Eating Recovery Center, an international center for eating disorders recovery. “The Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference is a forum in which professionals and advocates alike can learn from each other, collaborate and share the innovative practices that are moving our field forward.”

This interactive educational program features plenary speakers, panel discussions and Q&A sessions, and supports connection and collaboration among attending physicians, therapists, nurses, dietitians, advocacy organizations and other members of the eating disorders treatment community. Highlights of the 2012 eating disorders conference include:

* Eating Disorders in the DSM-V: What Might We Expect?; Joel Yager, MD, FAED

* Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Action; Enola Gorham, LCSW, CEDS

* The State of Evidence-Based Treatment in the Field of Eating Disorders; Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS

* Updates in Refeeding Practices for Adolescents with Anorexia in the Inpatient Setting; Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAED, FSAHM, FAAP, CEDS

* Cognitive Remediation Therapy for Eating Disorders: A New Adjunct to Treatment; Emmett Bishop, MD, FAED, CEDS

The 2012 Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference will again be held at the Denver Marriott City Center. Prior to July 12, 2012, registration for professionals is $150 and includes all sessions, 12 continuing education credits, conference handouts and resources, lunch and dinner on Friday, breakfast and lunch on Saturday and periodic refreshment breaks. Single-day registration is $100. Student-discounted registration is $125 and $75 for single-day attendance. Space is limited and registration prior to the event is recommended. Register instantly online at EatingRecoveryCenter.com or by mail after completing the registration form.

This year, Eating Recovery Center will also offer conference attendees the opportunity to attend a pre-conference four-hour ethics workshop. Titled “Should Gandhi Have Been Force Fed: Ethical Issues in the Treatment of Eating Disorders,” the workshop will be held Friday, August 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., prior to the start of the general conference. Presenters include eating disorders treatment expert Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS, chief clinical officer of Eating Recovery Center; Rev. David W. Kenney, MA, MA, Cand. D.Be., of The Clinical Ethics Consultancy; and Andrew Braun, MBA, chief operating officer of Eating Recovery Center. Workshop registration costs $25 with conference registration and $50 without conference registration.

The new Eating Recovery Center Foundation (ERCF) was established in 2012 as a 501(c)(3) foundation with a three-fold purpose: to provide professionals in the eating disorders field with education and development programs that increase their knowledge and strengthen clinical treatment skills; to support research initiatives that deepen our understanding of these illnesses and how they can best be treated; and to create a fund that provides financial grants to Eating Recovery Center patients who require financial assistance.

For more information or to register for the 4th Annual Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference, visit http://bit.ly/EatingDisordersConference2012 or call 877-218-1344.

Contact:
Shannon Fern
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
sfern@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Healthcare

Children and Teens Point to Summer Camp as the Place Where Eating Disordered Behaviors Often Begin

June 27, 2012 straightlinepr Leave a comment

Eating Recovery Center Urges Parents to be Proactive in Planning a Healthy Summer Camp Experience and Vigilant for Signs of Eating Disorders Once Children Return Home

Denver, CO, June 26, 2012 – More than 10 million American children attend a camp each summer. Because these children often spend weeks – and sometimes months – away from parental supervision, Eating Recovery Center, an international center for eating disorders recovery, urges parents to be aware of summer camp triggers that may contribute to the development of an eating disorder in their camp-going children.

“Every year, Eating Recovery Center sees many young patients who cite summer camp as the place where their disordered eating behaviors either began or intensified,” said Jamie Manwaring, PhD, primary therapist at Eating Recovery Center’s Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents. “It is important to recognize that summer camps do not ‘cause’ eating disorders; however, camps’ environments can often be triggering for a child with the genetic or temperamental predisposition for an eating disorder.”

The onset of puberty, typically occurring between the ages of 10 and 14 for girls and 12 and 16 for boys, is one of the two most common times when eating disorders develop. Children in this age range who have a family history of eating disorders, who have previously engaged in disordered eating or who have highly sensitive, perfectionistic temperaments may be more likely to be triggered by camp activities or situations.

Potentially triggering activities or situations may include a competitive athletic environment, exposure to bunkmates’ or friends’ disordered eating behaviors, an intense focus on health and nutrition or anxiety about trying to “fit in” with new camp friends. Without ongoing parental supervision, children who begin engaging in disordered eating behaviors will often maintain, or intensify them throughout the duration of camp without their parents’ knowledge.

To help parents plan a healthy, fun camp experience for their children and proactively practice eating disorders prevention, Eating Recovery Center offers these five tips:

1. Look into the way meals are structured at your child’s camp. Are mealtimes staffed so that camp counselors sit with campers and are available to notice if a child has stopped eating or drastically changed his or her eating habits?

2. Do some comparative research if you intend on sending your child to a sports camp. Children with a family history of eating disorders may be better suited at a camp that is focused on recreation and fun, rather than one that is focused on competition and intense fitness.

3. Send your child to camp with positive messages. Emphasize to your child that the goal of summer camp is to have fun and meet new friends. Remind your children that you love them for who they are, not what specific activities they excel at, and that it does not matter if they are the fastest runners or strongest swimmers at camp.

4. Check in with your child while he or she is at camp. Use phone calls, emails and letters as an opportunity to ask open-ended questions about his or her camp experience. Look and listen for any sudden changes in your child’s overall outlook.

5. Keep an eye out for signs of eating disorders when your child returns home from camp. Is your child eating smaller portions or restricting certain foods altogether? Has eating become a power struggle? Has your child’s exercise regimen significantly increased or have you “caught” him or her exercising in secret? Do you suspect purging after meals? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, it may be time to seek help for a potential eating disorder.

“When parents see children after they have been away at a month- or summer-long camp, changes in body weight, overall health, general demeanor and outlook can become that much more noticeable,” explains Dr. Manwaring. “If your child exhibits worrisome behaviors after returning home, do not wait to seek help. With eating disorders, the earlier the intervention, the more successful the treatment will be. Early intervention saves lives.”

Parents are encouraged to seek an eating disorders assessment if they notice troubling behaviors in their children or adolescents when they return home from camp. Eating disorders recovery is entirely possible with early intervention and proper treatment from qualified professionals.

Denver-based facilities include the Behavioral Hospital for Adults, the Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, the Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Services for Adults, and the Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents. In addition, Eating Recovery Center, partnering with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program, offers Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient Services in Sacramento, California, as well as Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services in Fresno and Roseville. For more information, please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

Contact:
Shannon Fern
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303.433.7020
sfern@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Healthcare

Demand for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders Care Prompts Eating Recovery Center Expansion

May 31, 2012 straightlinepr Leave a comment

International Center for Eating Disorders Recovery Expands Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents to Address Rising Incidence of Eating Disorders in Young Patient Populations

Denver, CO, May 30, 2012 – In response to an increasing demand for child and adolescent eating disorders care, Eating Recovery Center, an international center for eating disorders recovery, has expanded its Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents. With the opening of a new facility in Denver’s Lowry neighborhood, this 11-hour-per-day, family-based treatment program will nearly triple current capacity. Eating Recovery Center’s child and adolescent programs, which provide inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization and outpatient treatment to boys and girls ages 10 through 17, have been in high demand since the Center opened its Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents in January of 2011.

The prevalence of eating disorders in adolescence and childhood has steadily increased in recent years. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, from 1999 to 2006, hospitalizations for eating disorders increased by 119 percent for children younger than 12 years.

“The growing need for eating disorders treatment programs with specialized expertise in managing the therapeutic and medical needs of children, adolescents and families is apparent,” said Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS, medical director of child and adolescent services and chief medical officer of Eating Recovery Center. “The expansion of the Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents enables Eating Recovery Center to address this trend by providing comprehensive treatment to a significantly larger number of patients and families.”

Offering a critical stepping-stone in the eating disorders recovery process for young patients, the Partial Hospitalization Program enables patients and their families to participate in daily programming that emphasizes communication skills, relapse prevention strategies and healthy parent/child interactions. Through individual, group and family therapy and staff-supported meals, families begin to work toward returning to “life as usual” outside of their child’s structured eating disorders treatment environment. The overall focus is on recovery and well-being.

Patients participate in a combination of individual, group and family therapy emphasizing recovery skills and the role of families in lasting recovery. They engage with a licensed teacher at Eating Recovery Center’s Learning Center in the afternoons to facilitate a seamless transition back to school following treatment. While their child is in treatment, parents and family members receive twice-a-day education lectures and participate in support groups. Multi-family groups and family meals are also embedded in the weekly schedule to foster a supportive community for patients and family members.

“Our treatment philosophy recognizes the importance of family involvement, education and empowerment in the recovery process,” continued Dr. Bermudez. “Treatment programming acknowledges that many child and adolescent patients are too developmentally young to take full ownership of weight restoration, sustainable recovery skills and aftercare, and provides parents with tools to continue to facilitate recovery at home.”

When patients are medically and psychiatrically stable, the structure and support of 24-hour care environment is not necessary and there is willingness and availability among both patient and parents to engage in intensive outpatient treatment, the Partial Hospitalization Program can be a meaningful starting point for families to begin the recovery process. Alternatively, patients can step down to this level of care from Eating Recovery Center’s inpatient and residential programs for children and adolescents. In the latter instance, continuity of care is a priority and patients will retain the same treatment team throughout their full course of treatment.

The only privately owned licensed psychiatric hospital in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to treating eating disorders and providing all levels of care for adults, adolescents and children, Eating Recovery Center’s Denver-based facilities include the Behavioral Hospital for Adults, the Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, the Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Services for Adults, and the Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents. In addition, Eating Recovery Center, in partnership with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program, offers Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient Services in northern California.

For more information about eating disorders programs or to learn about Eating Recovery Center’s admissions process, visit www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

About Eating Recovery Center:
Eating Recovery Center is an international center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Kenneth Weiner, Craig Johnson, Emmett Bishop and Ovidio Bermudez, programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults that includes Inpatient, Residential, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. Denver-based facilities include the Behavioral Hospital for Adults, the Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, the Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Services for Adults, and the Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents. In addition, Eating Recovery Center, in partnership with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program, offers Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient Services in Sacramento, California, as well as Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services in Fresno and Roseville. For more information, please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

Contact:
Shannon Fern
Communications Strategy Group
East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 433-7020
sfern@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com